BLUE BELL, Pa. (WPVI) -- Angel Flight East has been offering free air transportation to children and adults with severe medical conditions for 21 years.
Located at Wings Field Airport in Blue Bell, volunteer pilots use their private planes to fly patients to medical facilities all along the east coast, many in Philadelphia.
The facilities include Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Shriners Hospitals for Children, and Cancer Treatment Centers of America.
Hank Stoebenau has been a pilot for the non-profit for thirteen years.
"After the first couple of angel flights, I became aware of the tremendous need and a sense of giving that you get especially when you're transporting a young patient," Stoebenau said.
On one flight, 15-year-old Abigail from Syracuse was flown to Shriners Hospital.
"And you think about how lucky you are, how lucky you've been," Stoebenau said.
"We actually have well over 100 volunteer pilots. We have some that fly more than others, but we appreciate everybody that volunteers," Adam Zucker, President of Angel Flight East, said.
Its main mission is the regular transport of patients, but the organization also provides disaster relief.
"We were the first public benefit flying organization in the area that was allowed back in the air by the FAA after 911," Zucker said.
Every year Angel Flight East hosts an annual community event and fundraiser, replete with food, airplane rides and other activities, and this year is no different.
This Saturday, September 6th, as many as 3,000 people will flood the airfield for the 24th annual Wings and Wheels.